Pack Expo 2013: Klöckner Pentaplast showcases 100% PCR content films

Las Vegas – After years of exhibiting at Pack Expo Chicago, Klöckner Pentaplast made its exhibiting debut at this year’s Pack Expo Las Vegas show (Sept. 23-25; Las Vegas).

“We have a long-standing history with the Chicago show, and we’ve always had a presence at the Las Vegas one and in the past walked around the show grounds,” said Christopher Findley, director of marketing for Klöckner Pentaplast. “We’ve always been impressed with the turnout with this show and so we decided to exhibit this year.”

At Pack Expo, the company showcased a wide range of packaging materials in booth #6011 including its Pentaform SmartCycle 100% post-consumer-recycled (PCR) content films and blister design services. In addition, the company recently announced it has added to its global production capacity in Asia, the Americas and Europe. The company is investing €45.6 million ($60.25 million) as part of its 2013 and 2014 expansion plans, which include facilities in Cotia, Brazil; Suzhou, China; Newport/Crumlin, Great Britain; and Santo Tirso, Portugal. About 142 employees are being added worldwide.

Klöckner Pentaplast purports to be the only rigid film producer with manufacturing sites located on four continents: Asia, Europe, North America and South America.


Pentaform Smartcycle 100% post-consumer recycled-content films
The Pentaform SmartCycle film product line has been extended to include Pentaform  SmartCycle PET films consisting of 100% post-consumer-recycled (PCR) content. The company said that most standard PCR films available in the market today combine PCR content and virgin resin, whereas the Pentaform SmartCycle TH-ES100 films are made from 100% PCR from beverage bottles. Pentaform  SmartCycle films are ideal for face-seal, tray, and trapped blister thermoformed applications.

Through its own bottle recycling facility, Klöckner Pentaplast has recovered more than 11.6 billion plastic bottles to transform waste into a new use with its SmartCycle packaging films. SmartCycle films are engineered for thermoform, food, and box packaging applications with guaranteed PCR content range of 25% to 100%, as well as heat-seal (25% and 50% PCR) and RF-seal (35% PCR) formulations.

Food-grade SmartCycle films comply with all FDA regulations for direct food contact, as well as all applicable EU regulations and directives for food contact. SmartCycle films are certified to meet U.S domestic packaging regulations.
In addition, Klöckner Pentaplast’s line of SmartCycle PCR content polyester films produced in North America has been granted a “Certificate of Verification” by NSF International, which is an independent, third party, not-for-profit organization.

“Receiving this certification shows that our claims are consistent and valid,” Findley said. “It can give customers a peace of mind that the PCR-content claim is true and there is no greenwashing involved.”


Pentapharm BlisterPro design service
Klöckner Pentaplast also introduced the company’s blister design service, Pentapharm BlisterPro. In conjunction with the company’s Blister Technology Center, its capabilities have been expanded to include new design and optimization services for the pharmaceutical packaging industry. Pentapharm BlisterPro allows package designers, technicians, and engineers to explore the effects of tool geometry, film types, and process conditions, as well as predict the protective barrier properties of the final package.